Table of Contents

List of maps....7

Introduction by Peter Tsouras..........9

Part One: Military Improvisations during the Russian Campaign
                 By Generaloberst Erhard Rauss

Introduction..........31
1. The Offensive..........33
2. The Defensive..........50
3. Troop Movements..........65
4. Combat Arms..........68
5. Indispensable Expedients..........74
6. Other Expedients..........78
7. Supply by Airlift and by Aerial Delivery Containers..........82
8. Supply and Transportation Problems in the Arctic..........85
9. Clothing and Equipment..........87
10. Shelter..........89
11. Weapons..........90
12. Technical Training for Arctic Conditions..........92
13. Improvised Front-Line Propaganda..........94
14. The Manpower Problem..........97
15. The Organization of Special Units..........103
16. Political Measures Introduced by the National Socialist Party..........113
17. Are Improvisations Inevitable?..........118
18. The Relative Value of Improvisations..........122

Part Two: German Defense Tactics against Russian Break-throughs
                 By Generaloberst Erhard Rauss

Introduction..........133
19. Frontal Counterattack..........135
20. Flank Attack..........140
21. Spoiling Attack..........145
22. Defensive Pincers..........150
23. Defense in Place with Mobile Reserves..........156
24. Position Defense in Strong Points and Improvised Fortresses..........162
25. Improvised Zone Defense..........164
26. Isthmus Defense - The Sea as Flank Protection..........169
27. Delaying and Blocking Actions..........183
28. Delay on Successive Positions..........190
29. Defense against Break-throughs - a Combination of Defense Tactics..........197
30. Conclusions..........204

Part Three: Operations of Encircled Forces: German Experiences in Russia
                     By Genralleutnant Oldwig Von Natzmer

Introduction..........233
31. The Pocket of Klin - Breakout of a Panzer Division..........235
32. Encirclement at Velikiye Luki - Failure of a Rescue Operation..........239
33. The Pocket West of Cherkassy - The Inside View..........247
34. The Pocket West of Cherkassy - The Outside View..........263
35. Encirclement of a Panzer Army near Kamenets-Podolskiy..........272
36. Conclusions..........281
Appendix: Air Support of Encircled Forces..........295

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